21 episodes
Untitled Dad Project Spoke Media
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- Arts
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4.9 • 7 Ratings
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A writer’s meta-narrative quest to reckon with her Dad Character after his untimely death, find a meaningful resolution, and finally tell her own story.
Co-hosted by creator Janielle Kastner and director Carson McCain.
Untitled Dad Project is a Spoke Media original.
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CHAPTER 1(A): Inciting Incident
“What is the event that radically threw life out of balance?”
Jan and Cat review an interview with story teacher Robert McKee, and learn where to begin her story. Oh and also, that Jan’s whole life is a lie?
More of Robert McKee’s work, including his books and popular “Story Seminars”, can be found at https://mckeestory.com/
Follow along at @untitleddadproject!
Let us know about your Inciting Incident(s) at untitleddadproject@spokemedia.io!
Original music composed in response to each episode is by the incredible Rat Rios
Our artwork is by Kevin Craft Co.
Untitled Dad Project is a Spoke Media original. -
CHAPTER 1(B): Inciting Incident
Jan activates her learnings from Robert McKee by talking to her Mom Character.
A surprise, a big failure, a small miracle, and grapes.
Follow along at @untitleddadproject!
Tell us about your Inciting Incident(s) at untitleddadproject@spokemedia.io!
Original music composed in response to each episode is by the incredible Rat Rios
Our artwork is by Kevin Craft Co.
Untitled Dad Project is a Spoke Media original. -
CHAPTER 2: Genre
“And now I’m the... surprise bastard daughter in a soap opera?”
Jan and Cat figure out how to embrace Jan’s new genre with actress and former soap opera star Taylor Anne Ramsey.
Can Jan re-cast herself from scandalous side character to powerful protagonist?
Is this how she confronts her Dad Character?
Will she ever properly throw a drink in a man’s face?
Follow along at @untitleddadproject!
Tell us about your Genre at untitleddadproject@spokemedia.io!
Original music composed in response to each episode is by the incredible Rat Rios
Our artwork is by Kevin Craft Co.
Untitled Dad Project is a Spoke Media original. -
CHAPTER 3: Script
What happens when the script fails you?
Jan goes off-script with the Reverend who officiated and wrote the “script” for her Dad Character’s funeral. Carson and Jan discover what it means to bear witness to another’s story, even (especially) when words don’t work.
Follow along at @untitleddadproject! Tell us about your experience with Scripts at untitleddadproject@spokemedia.io!
Original music composed in response to each episode is by the incredible Rat Rios
Our artwork is by Kevin Craft Co.
Untitled Dad Project is a Spoke Media original.
Check out Care/Of vitamins, and use the code DADPROJECT at checkout -
CHAPTER 4: Plot
What do you do when your plot... twists?
Janielle wrestles with her broken, no-good, dead-Dad plot, with help from plot expert Professor Peter Brooks. Carson and Jan confront the aftermath of a plot twist: Do you ever really “move on”? What do you do with all the “could have beens”? And how do you say goodbye to the plot you wanted?
Learn more about Peter Brooks and check out his book “Reading for the Plot”.
Follow along at @untitleddadproject! Tell us about your experience with Plot at untitleddadproject@spokemedia.io!
Untitled Dad Project is a Spoke Media original.
Note: Cat and Jan in no way believe they got string theory right. If you’d like to know what string theory *actually* is, check out String Theory. Thanks, string theory, for helping us figure out our story, even though we got you wrong! -
CHAPTER 5: Foreshadowing
Can you escape your own foreshadowing?
Janielle confronts the theme that’s been chasing her from the beginning: “Daddy Issues”. With help from therapist Shea Theillman, father-loss expert Dr. Don Hebbard, and a slew of pop-culture references, Carson and Janielle figure out how to stop running and reckon with Oedipus (...not in the way that you think).
More of Shea Thielemann here. More of Dr. Don Hebbard here.
Follow along at @untitleddadproject! Tell us about your experience with Foreshadowing at untitleddadproject@spokemedia.io!
Untitled Dad Project is a Spoke Media original.
Customer Reviews
Thank you so much!
Dear Janielle and Carson, I started listening to your podcast after it was recommended to me while listening to “Family Ghosts”. I have been following you on your journey, eagerly awaiting the next episode. “Untitled Dad Project” has been like a healing process for me. As an author, you have inspired me to write about my own loss, revolving around my sister. I wish you all the luck in the world as you continue to reckon with your experience. I will be listening until the end.
Not a perfect review
Dear Janielle and Carson:
I appreciate the amount of work and passion that you’re both putting into this podcast. The literary framework is an excellent concept and although I will stick it through to the end in honour of both of the aforementioned reasons I can’t help comparing your experience to my own young life. All flavours of pain are valid, of course, but running constantly through my head is this: I would gladly trade your absent father for mine who was present (now also deceased). I can’t tell you how many times I wished he would just go away. Including a few times today.